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Vaccination Schedule for your Puppy, Dog, Kitten or Cat

Our Recommended Vaccination Schedule for Dogs, Cats, Puppies and Kittens

Puppies and Kittens need vaccinations early in life as antibodies they receive from their mother start to decrease around 6-8 weeks of age. It is during this time that puppies need to start building their own immunity through vaccinations.

All puppies should receive core vaccines as well as certain non-core vaccinations depending on the pet’s lifestyle and breed.

Puppies, Adult Dogs, Kittens and Adult Cats should follow the vaccination schedule below. Discussing your pet’s needs and medical condition with one of our veterinarians at our clinics will help you decide what is best to help your pet live a long and healthy life.

We recommend following the pet vaccination schedule below as a general guideline. Where you live and your pet's lifestyle will determine specific vaccination and testing needs.

Core vaccinations

Recommended for all dogs cats

Dogs Cats
8 Weeks Old

DHPP (4-in-1: Distemper, Hepatitis Parvovirus, Parainfluenza)

Start Heartworm Prevention (such as Heartgard, Trifexis, Revolution, etc.)

FVRCP Vaccine (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis Calicivirus and Panleukopenia)

Start Heartworm Prevention

12 Weeks Old DHPP Booster

FVRCP Booster

FeLV Vaccine* (Feline Leukemia Virus)

16 Weeks Old

DHPP Booster

Rabies Vaccine

FVRCP Booster

FeLV Booster

Rabies Vaccine

Common non-core vaccinations

Recommended based on pet's lifestyle

Dogs Cats
8 Weeks Old We typically do not recommend non-core vaccinations at this age due to their sensitivity. We typically do not recommend non-core vaccinations at this age due to their sensitivity.
12 Weeks Old

Bordetella Vaccine (kennel cough)

Lepto Vaccine

Lyme Vaccine

Canine Influenza Vaccine (H3N8)

Rattlesnake Vaccine

16 Weeks Old

Bordetella Booster

Lepto Booster

Lyme Booster

Canine Influenza Booster

Rattlesnake Booster

Tests and de-worming

Recommended based on pet's lifestyle

Dogs Cats
8 Weeks Old

De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm

Start Parasite Prevention (flea, tick, heartworm)

De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm

Start Parasite Prevention (flea, tick, heartworm)

12 Weeks Old

De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm

De-worming for Hookworm, Roundworm, Tapeworm

FeLV / FIV / Heartworm Test

6 Months Old

Heartworm, Erlichiosis, Anaplasmois and Lyme Test (4Dx)

*Feline leukemia virus vaccine may not be considered a “core vaccination” by some veterinarians. However, it has recently been recommended that kittens are at the highest risk of contracting feline leukemia virus more so than adult cats, therefore many vets are reconsidering making FeLV a “core vaccination”. Currently, there are two different types of FeLV vaccinations available for cats: one is injectable, the other is a transdermal vaccination without the use of a needle.

**There are two different types of rabies vaccinations available for cats.

Boosters

Most vaccinations are labeled for yearly boosters. Many factors need to be weighed when deciding on a vaccination plan that is tailor-made for your pet. Our clinic veterinarians can help you decide which yearly vaccinations are best for your pet based on these factors:

  • Type of vaccination and how it is labeled for use
  • Pet’s age
  • Medical and  physical condition of pet being vaccinated
  • Pet’s lifestyle and exposure to disease
  • Presence of disease in pet’s environment
  • Reaction to previous vaccinations
  • And many others

It is necessary to boost vaccinations (vaccinating again in a certain time period) to allow for the growth and expansion of the immune response in order to fight off infection upon exposure to the actual disease.

It is recommended to keep your puppy away from unvaccinated dogs while the vaccination process is going on and away from places of multiple dog exposure, if vaccination status of all dogs is not known.